GLAM/Newsletter/February 2026/Contents/Belgium report
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A photo safari through Wiki Loves Fashion & a rescue mission with Mission Gourmande!
News from Wikimedia Belgium.
Wiki Loves Fashion 2026
Fashion, fiber & folklore
In February 2026, we will once again be organizing a writing challenge on fashion: Wiki Loves Fashion 2026. But this year, we are going one step further. We will not only be shining the spotlight on fashion, but also on textile techniques and intangible heritage. In fact, it will be called: Wiki Loves Fashion, Fiber & Folklore.
Why? Because clothing is more than just style. It tells stories about identity, craftsmanship, tradition, and social change.
On a photo safari to an exhibition
2026 is packed with fashion exhibitions. This is an excellent opportunity to create visual material together that we can use on the Dutch and international versions of Wikipedia.
The idea is simple: meet up with other Wikipedians and visit an exhibition together. A photo safari, in other words. It's not mandatory, but going out together increases the fun and often improves the quality of the results.
What should you bring?
- Your museum card 😉
- A camera or smartphone
- Curiosity
Don't just photograph the pieces themselves, but also room texts, context, scenography, and background information. Exhibition catalogs, podcasts, and online videos can help you write new or improved articles.
Exhibitions to discover
There are many inspiring exhibitions:
- Suit Yourself: 100 Years of Menswear 1750–1850 – Rijksmuseum (until March 15, 2026)
- Draad en Dracht – Scheveningen style in motion – Muzee Scheveningen (until May 28, 2026)
And particularly topical:
- Embroidering Palestine – ModeMuseum Antwerpen (MoMu) (December 13, 2025 – June 7, 2026)
This latest exhibition shows how Palestinian embroidery conveys identity, history, and emotion, from traditional costumes to contemporary interpretations. Textiles as a silent form of resistance in violent times.
Institutions such as Kantcentrum Brugge and the Manneken Pis Museum also offer inspiration for those who want to delve deeper into textiles and crafts.
Writing together, enriching together
With this edition, we want to not only improve articles, but also make underrepresented topics related to textiles, crafts, and folklore more visible within Wikimedia projects.
So, do you feel like writing, taking photos, or just joining us on our journey? Join Wiki Loves Fashion 2026.
Because heritage only truly comes alive when we make it visible together. ✨
10,500 pages saved in one weekend
Mission Gourmande
What do you do when a museum is threatened with closure and a unique collection is at risk of being dispersed? You mobilize. Quickly.
On January 31 and February 1, 2026, a French-Belgian team of Wikimedia volunteers visited the Musée de la Gourmandise in Hermalle-sous-Huy (province of Liège). Their mission: to digitally preserve the museum's culinary heritage before it was too late.
The campaign was named Mission Gourmande. And it became a race against time.
Display case by display case
For two days, a dozen volunteers worked methodically and with great concentration. Objects were carefully removed from display cases, dusted, photographed in temporary studio setups, and accurately described.
The result:
- 700 objects photographed
- More than 1,200 images uploaded to Wikimedia Commons
- 39 rare books fully digitized
- More than 10,500 pages saved
Among the objects: fragile paper decorations from the 19th century, silverware, everyday utensils, and a solid iron knife over five feet tall. Not only masterpieces, but also ordinary kitchen heritage was given a digital future.
Tasty history
The books form a small treasure trove of culinary history. The oldest work dates from around 1660. There are also two Dutch-language gems among them:
From simple recipes to spectacular pièces montées, from wine literature to historical health advice: together they amount to more than 10,500 pages that are now freely available.
Heritage free for everyone
The digitization was organized in a matter of weeks, with support from Wikimedia Belgium and Wikimedia France.
In the year that Wikipedia celebrates its 25th anniversary, Mission Gourmande demonstrates what Wikimedia has stood for for a quarter of a century: preserving knowledge and cultural heritage and sharing it freely — for everyone.
Want to see all images on Wikimedia Commons? Then click here.
Agenda
✍️ Wikipedia writing sessions for International Women's Day 2026
From March 8 to 10, 2026, Wikipedia writing sessions will take place at 16 locations in Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia as part of International Women's Day. More than 30 heritage organizations are supporting the initiative, which will accommodate at least 350 volunteers.
The aim is to increase the visibility of women on Wikipedia, as a significant proportion of biographies and articles about women are still missing worldwide.
The initiative is organized by FARO, meemoo, Bruges Public Library, and Wikimedia Belgium.
Participants must bring their own laptop and a pre-created Wikipedia account. More information about locations and registration is available here.
🎉 Wikipedia 25 Party – Celebrate with us in Brussels!
In 2026, Wikipedia will celebrate its 25th anniversary. What began as an ambitious idea has grown into a global knowledge project with more than 65 million articles in over 300 languages. Today, Wikipedia feeds our daily lives, from education and research to quiz questions and even AI applications.
That deserves a celebration.
🥳 You're invited!
📍 Les Ateliers des Tanneurs
Huidevetterstraat 60A Rue des Tanneurs, Brussels
(easily accessible by train from Brussels Central Station)
🗓 March 18, 2026
🕕 From 6:00 p.m.
Join volunteers, partners, and supporters in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the world's largest free encyclopedia.
📆 Wikimedia Belgium General Meeting
Dear members and supporters, We cordially invite you to attend the Wikimedia Belgium General Meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Transport en Mobility in Leuven.
During this meeting, we will look back on the past year, discuss future projects and strategic plans, and there will be time for questions and ideas. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your thoughts on the future of our association and to connect with other members. Confirming your attendance is mandatory.
📍Transport & Mobility Leuven
Diestsesteenweg 71
3010 Leuven
🕑 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
✍🏻 Registration required
Do you want to read more news from Wikimedia Belgium? Read the full newsletter here.
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